Hiring a nanny with a drink driving offence

[littlelongstockings]

I interviewed a lovely nanny yesterday who I liked overall, however she has a DUI on her criminal record from 9 years ago, she is in her 40s so not young.
the position will not include driving my child around as she doesn’t currently have a car and isn’t open to using one of our cars, she will transport my child by bus or train.
would you employ a nanny with a background offence of DUI?

If Op wasn’t asking to discriminate for the conviction but simply dismissed her application on lack of experience or reference, we wouldn’t have this thread. It’s obviously a discrimination question.

No

No.

No probably not. I'd be concerned that like many many others, the charge was due to driving the next morning thinking she was under limit. So I'd be too concerned that even if not driving that there could be a risk. One thing if she'd been 18 when we're all stupid, but in her 30s she should have known better.

It’s not about my “experience”. Your post is factually incorrect. Having a conviction for drink driving is not a barring offence for a teacher. Your moral outrage is not a legal standard.

Not a chance.

There's a common misconception on Mumsnet that anybody who misuses a substance will continue to do so for the rest of their lives. You hear it a lot.

Of course, in reality that is often not the case.

I would speak to her, OP. There must be a reason why you are still thinking about it a e starting a thread about it. Presumably, she seemed better in many ways than anyone else you interviewed for the role.

You owe it to your child to try your best to select the person who will care for them best, and not being swayed by prejudice.

No. Do not risk it

I would simply because ashamedly I have been here myself and there’s no excuse for it.
I have been completely sober 5 years now and am
a completely different person to who I was 10 years ago. There is no excuse but you may be ruling out someone who would be a great employee

Any other candidates could have done exactly the same They just didnt get caught. Cast the first stone comes to mind

The fact that she didn’t tell you this information would worry me.

It was 9 years ago. If the conviction is spent, and you still like her, employ her. You're not stuck with her forever, if you feel she's not suitable, you can dismiss her and look for someone else.

I also agree with the post above about getting done the morning after the night before. I bet every single person reading this thread has got up one morning and been over the limit and not realised - whether they drove or not.

I don't actually agree this sort of conviction should even come up on a DBS check that is carried out for childcare reasons, the only ones that should show up should be those that are relevant - eg violence or sexual crimes.

It was on the DBS check, it was on the OP to ask about it.

Exactly this.

@littlelongstockings This is a lie.
She knows that for insurance she would need to disclose the DUI.
She doesn't realise you know.
She is not open and trustworthy.

A lot can change in 9 years, maybe ask her about it was she rolling drunk or was she driving the next day thinking she would be ok?

Not bringing it up is potentially quite addicty behaviour.

So I would- BUT only if they mentioned it to me- and expressed remorse and showed changed character. If not then absolutely not.

I agree with the poster who said the most worrying part now is what is her relationship with alcohol like? Most drink drivers have issues with drinking so that alone would probably make me pass on her.

I agree.
And a lot of alcoholics stop driving completely because they know they’ll always be over the limit.

No.

That plus she didn't tell you herself.
She's messaging you at 2.30am!!!!!

Does she still consume alcohol would be my reasonable question. Not saying that moderation isn’t acceptable but if she was lax enough to DUI then who’s to say she wouldn’t drink before looking after a child?

I’ve been in your position OP, and have hired a nanny with a DUI from the past, who also drove my children. She was lovely, and her (UK) references were very good.
The difference is that she was upfront about it in her interview. She told me upfront and was mortified about it. Said it was on the way back from a funeral. And that she would totally understand if I didn’t want to hire her because of it.
This nanny was also bringing her daughter along to the job, so I felt safer with her driving knowing her own daughter was there too.
The red flag with your lady is that she didn’t tell you and that she doesn’t have uk references. I wouldn’t risk it.

Absolutely not.